The Book Shop

Dad

Adam immediately catches me and Nate quickly pulls me away.
"Who the hell are you?"
"Adam. Piper's stepbrother."
"Stay away from my sister." Nate glares and Adam merely smirks. "Don't count on it." He whispers in my ear. I shudder and move away from both of them.
"When did he say he'll be here?"
"I don't know. We should get the house ready though."
"Will Reagan be home?"
"She hasn't made enough progress."
"Oh."
"Yeah, sorry."
"Not your fault."
Adam watches us like a tennis game, trying to figure everything out.
"Okay, well I'm going to go tell Piper I'm leaving." Before I can get away, Nate grabs my wrist. And to my horror he turns it to showcase some faded angry red lines. Adam stared with his brows furrowed, but stayed silent. Nathan shakes his head and burrows his head in his hands. My throat constricts and I rush away to Piper, before I cry. It kills me that I keep disappointing him. I just want to feel better.
"Hey, where's all your stuff?"Piper addresses me in a towel.
"Nathan is here. He's really pissed."
Piper blushes, then rolls her eyes. My poor friend had fallen for my brother last year when we were sophomores and he was a senior. They actually lasted for a while, and I started to believe my brother was actually softening. At one point I truly thought he loved her. But then, he got drunk at a party at the end of the year and slept with Dara. That bitch.
"Why is he here?"
"Apparently I can't "run away" and my dad called. He's coming back." My best friend paled and quickly flung herself at me. She rubbed my back and I buried my head in her shoulder, shaking with nervousness.
"I have to be home with him for now. I wish we could go get our own place."
"You and me both sister. I'm going to kill Adam if he brings one more slut over and keeps me awake with their moans." I wince and shake my head. She takes it as a sign of a disgust, but it's not only that.
"Okay, well, wanna walk me out?"
"Sure." We start out of her room and I give her a sideways glance.
"Um, Pipes? You're still in a towel."
"I know." She smirked and I rolled my eyes. Nathan's eyes bulged when he saw my towel clad friend. The tops of her boobs and much of her legs were clearly visible. Adam made a disgusted face and yelled at his stepsister, "Jesus Christ put some clothes on! Stop pretending to be a slut." She glared, "this is payback from the audio porn I've been getting from you and your whores!" Adam winced at that and quickly looked at me and then away. My brother and I watched the two as if they were the best television we'd ever seen. Nate was primarily looking at my best friend, though. He shifted awkwardly and almost had a look of longing. I glared at him and shoved his arm. It appeared as though I woke him from a daydream and we slowly made our way to the door.
"It was, um, good to see you Pipe." My brother tried to say nonchalantly. I laughed to myself, what an idiot.
"Yeah, not so much asshat." She glared and the moved to hug me. We tightly embraced, but when I looked over her shoulder I saw both our brothers watching us. I hope I imagined the drool on their mouthes.
"Pigs" I muttered under my breath and Piper nodded.
*********
Finally, I returned home to my appropriately dressed mother. She watched me silently, then marched toward me.
"Don't you ever do that again. I'm sorry I hurt you."
"So, you can leave me whenever but I can't leave you?"
"Piper." Nate interjected, but I sent him a murderous glare.
"No. Please don't abandon me like your father." I stumbled back, as if she'd shot me. My mother, the woman who brought me into the world, was able to compare me to the worst possible person in my world. It was like Virgin Mary describing Jesus as the devil. Maybe, not quite. Nate glared at my mom and I stumbled up the stairs, slamming the door.
After a few hours, someone lightly knocked on my door.
"Come in Nate." He walked in with a frown and handed me a plate of pizza. I wasn't quite hungry, but I knew he'd take it the wrong way if I refused food.
"Thanks." He only nodded and silently watched me eat.
"This guy Stanley came by? Do you have a boyfriend?"
"Ha, no why? What did he say?"
"He had a giant teddy bear in his arms. I know him from football, he's a nice guy but totally shut off from girls."
"Believe me, I know."
"Okay? I at least like him better than that ass Adam. What was his problem? The guy looked sketchy."
I laughed and shook my head.
   Later, Stan came barging into the house with a furious expression.
"People are so stupid!" He says and hits the kitchen counter for emphasis. I jump back, shocked by his rage. I'd never seen him this angry. Granted, I haven't known him long.
"Let's go up to my room." I tell him, giving my brother a weary look.
"Door stays open." He glares at Stan, who only rolls his eyes. We enter my room and Stan slams the door shut.
"Jeremy's being the biggest wimp ever. My friends were joking around and he literally acted like a wounded animal. Then he got pissed and yelled at them and now he's a fucking target. They're going to torment him and make his life miserable and I don't know what to do. He's pissed at me for not standing up to them, but it's not that easy. They're my friends, we've had a bond since freshman year I can't just turn on them and kill their fun."
"What were they joking about?" Stanley hesitated visibly and I already knew.
"They were calling me a slut, weren't they? Or what were they asking you about how I am? Were they fucking asking for turns?" He glared at my aggression and defensively crossed his arms. I saw the guilt in his eyes though. I knew I hit the nail on the head. I bet anything that's exactly what they said. They were probably teasing him about the new girl he was "stringing along."
"They were just kidding around."
"Oh, I bet they were. What did they say about your boyfriend? Did you at least defend him?" I tensed when I saw him look at the ground and shrink away from me.
"I swear to fucking God Stanley, if they called him the f-word you better fucking reprimand them."
"It's not that fucking easy Layla! They're my friends!"
"So they should respect your opinions! And your preferences! If they're true friends they'll accept you and love you. Have you told anyone yet?"
"No."
"Dammit Stanley!"
"It's not that easy! I don't want them to think of me differently, to treat me differently."
"If they're your friends, they won't. I was a stranger to you and I didn't even blink when you told me."
"Yeah, but you're different. You're understanding and it was because you were a stranger that you didn't blink."
"That is not true. If Piper told me right now that she was a lesbian I'd still be myself with her and treat her like my best friend. That's not just me being understanding, that's me being a normal kind human being."
"Ugh" he tossed himself on my bed and buried his face in my pillows.
"I know this is hard. But please, don't hurt Jeremy. He seems like such a nice guy." I rub his back to try to soothe and console him.
"You're a great person. You don't even know Jeremy and you're protecting him. You didn't know me and immediately showed me comfort."
"Thanks." I smile and rub my face.
"So, that's your brother."
"That's my brother."
"I've had a crush on him for years." I burst out laughing.
"no!"
"Yeah, he was, like, my mentor for football and lacrosse. Such a dad. But total douche to girls. Except he was really sad about one girl who dumped him." I smirked at that. Piper was the only girl to ever dump my brother. Every other relationship, he's been the one to end it.
"That was Piper."
"No shit!"
"Yeah, that was bad."
"I bet. He cheat?"
"Yeah."
We were cuddled up in my bed and I started to stroke his dark hair. For a while we just talked, but I tensed when I heard the doorbell ring. Immediately I ran around my room cleaning. Stan gave me a weird look but didn't address my anxiousness. My brother called me frantically and I sped down the stairs.
A man with chocolate curly hair and sapphire green eyes stood in the doorway. He was at least six foot four and had a muscular build. An image of me poking his fat stomach runs through my mind and I frown. This person slightly resembles my father, the only distinct appearance that proves it actually is him is his smile. Everything else is different. His scent is one of a fancy cologne instead of the classic old stuff he used to use, his dress shirt covers his unique tattoos and he's wearing a royal blue tie. I have never, ever, seen my father wear a tie. My dad, the typical failed musician, was wearing a fucking tie. His usual angry demeanor was one of pure excitement and nervousness. I felt his green eyes inspect me and take in every inch of me. Probably checking for bruises or cuts. The ones he left, of course. Stanley stands behind me, munching on a green apple. My father frowns at him, but quickly returns to a neutral expression when he sees my protective glare.
"Dad."
"Hi Laylie. How are you sweetums?" I cringe at the pet name and shrug. There's not much I want to say. My mother floats in wearing a new blue dress that was conservative and obviously the stereotypical mother attire, with pearl earrings and a flowery skirt. Nate catches my eye and glares to say "don't make a remark."
"Stan, I'll talk to you later okay?" He nods with apprehension. The tension in my living room is palpable and i don't want him to be here for the blood bath. My mother interrupts though, by demanding "he should stay for dinner! We should get to know your boyfriend Layla!" I clench my fists and grit "he's not my boyfriend." My mother rolls her eyes, as if to show I was a child, refusing to admit to love. My father, stared at Stan as if to evaluate him just by his appearance.
"Hi, I'm Layla's father, Jay." Stan shakes his hand and responds, "Stan."
I try not to explode in annoyance.
"Okay, well Stan has to go to a friends house so he can't stay. I'll walk you to your car." Stan nods in confusion.
Everyone says goodbye and I nearly drag Stan away.
"Whose house am I going to?" He asks when we get to his car.
"Jeremy's. You're going to apologize and make up with him." Stan tenses and looks at me unsurely.
"You can do this." He only nods and leaves. I trudge back into my house.
"So, your boyfriend seems nice." My dad starts when we eat lasagne that my mother "made." I shake my head and look at him.
"He's just a friend. Yes, he's very nice."
"How's Piper?" My father artfully moves on.
"Fine. Her dad remarried and has a stepson that lives with them now."
"That's nice. What's he like?"
"I don't really know. Kind of a jerk ."
"oh... So Nathan how is college?"
"Good."
"I hope you're taking advantage of the classes UMiami offers."
"I am. I made the dean's list. And we're doing pretty well in football."
I beam at my brother. I am still so proud of him for getting into one of the best colleges for football. He's an excellent athlete. I went to all his games in high school and was always amazed at his abilities.
    My father only nods and continues to eat. They all talk politely but I stay silent. The mood is light and I know I'll ruin it if I open my mouth. Nathan glances at me every few minutes, as if to make sure I was still there. My mother sends hidden glares at me and I am tempted to flip her off. Dinner goes well until the end.
"I made my famous chocolate cake!" My mother squeals and I bite my lip. After she serves everyone she frowns when I don't touch my slice.
"Honey isn't that your favorite?"
"I'm really full."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah can I be excused?"
They all watch me as I take my plate to the sink and trudge back up the stairs. When I get to my room I see my light on and tense. I always leave my light off to conserve energy. Slowly, I open my door and he clamps his hand on my mouth when I'm about to scream.
"Are you going to be quiet?" I nod silently and he lifts his hand.
"What the hell are you doing here Adam? How did you get in here?"
"The roof outside your window? It's really flat and there's a tree right next to it. I heard you tell Piper about it."
"Why are you here?"
"Are-are, um, you okay?" I raise my eyebrows and nod.
"You broke into my house to ask me if I'm okay?" He grabbed my wrist in response and traced the lines slowly. I blushed and tried to pull away. He only held tighter and looked into my eyes.
"Please don't do this." He whispered and to my shock, he hugged me tightly. I froze and said, "I won't anymore." My stomach drops because I always say this, but I never actually stop. My world falls apart momentarily and I lose my strength. He doesn't believe me either and slowly, to my unlimited surprise, kisses each line. My heart pounds and I realize that this could get a lot worse. My dad's laughter booms and I jump.
"You need to go."
"What? Why?"
"I-I um, I'm having a family dinner and you're in my room, and ugh I could get in trouble." I start to shake with nerves as images of my angry father enter my mind. Adam notices and holds me.
"I wrote my number down. Call me and I'll come pick you up."
I look into his determined blue eyes and nod. "Okay."